Wall assembly



Oct. 20, 1936. R. v. PARSONS WALL ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 20, 1932I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 u. m M M ATTORNEY mvENToR qymond IIPamons. @77 @QQJ .E H .I

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OCt. 20, 1936. R, V. PARSONS 2,058,386

WALL ASSEMBLY Filed 0G12. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR R 197m and VPanfons.

ATTOR N EY Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALL ASSEMBLY Raymond V. Parsons, New York, N. Y., assignor Johns-Manville Corporation,

New York,

This invention relates to a substructure for an assembled wall, and particularly to such a substructure as described in the specifications and illustrated in the appended drawings.

In numerous unitized Wall assemblies that have been proposed to replace plastered walls, there is used a substructure that, in the finished assembly, supports units of facing or finished material. These substructures commonly comprise vertical studding secured in the substructure by various means. For example, there have been used fastening, members such as rivets, bolts, or screws, for attaching studding at one end to a sill member and at the other end to a ceiling head plate member. It is obvious that a riveted structure cannot be disassembled quickly. Also, holes for bolts or screws, if they are used, may be provided in the members that are to be attached to each other. Since floors of buildings, on which the wall structures are frequently supported, are usually uneven, the diiiculty of preforming holes in the ceiling head plates and upper ends of the studding, for example, which will register in the assembled wall is evident.

To obviate the disadvantages of fastening members in a wall that is adapted to be assembled or disassembled quickly, it has been proposed that each end of the web member of a metal stud should slip into a groove in the web member of a T-beam. In such an engagement the studding may slip in a sidewise manner, or it may turn somewhat on its longer axis with consequent distortion of the wall facing attached to the studding. On exposure to high temperatures, distortion or turning of the stud to a most unfortunate degree may occur.

Another means which has been proposed is the use of a stud with a short, extensible head piece, whereby the length of the stud may be adjusted to varying conditions. Provided there is a plurality of engagements whereby the extensible head is permanently secured to the rest of the stud, the extensible head would serve actually to brace or reinforce the stud in the position of overlap of the two members. However, this position of overlap is usually near an end, that is, near a point of attachment to a sill or ceiling head plate member, whereas the position at which reinforcement is most necessary is at the midsection of the studding, where the tendency to distortion is the greatest. Also, extensible studs are sometimes made with a series of holes in each of two members, with fastening means passing through a hole inone member and also a hole in the other member. Such an arrangement makes possible variation in the length of the studs in a stepwise manner, whereas variation in continuous manner is preferable.

A difficulty is also encountered in the irregularity of vertical surface to which an assembled 5 wall is sometimes secured, as at an end of the wall, where it may join an old. Wall of cement or masonry. l

Further, there has been difficulty in providing economical, light-weight studding, as for parti- 10 tion work, that is sufficiently light and also suiciently rigid to suit the requirements, particularly as to dependability in case of fire.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of assembled walls that 15 have been mentioned. More specifically, an object is to provide a convenient means of assembly or disassembly oi the parts of a wall substructure in which some tolerance is allowable in the length of the studding. Another object is to provide con- 2 venient means for adjustment of the position of an edge of the wall with respect to an anchorage, as, for example, a permanent Wall to which the assembly is attached at one edge. Another object is to provide such a substructure with an ex- 25 tensible studding that is reinforced at its midsection, that may be varied in length by increments or decrements as small as desired, and suitably also that may be tightened in extended position by convenient mechanical means.

tailed description that follows.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings in which other 30 .object and advantages will appear from the de- Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of 35 a Wall assembly constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a cross section of an extensible stud along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, in the direction of the arrows. v

40 Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a light-weight to a firm anchorage, which, in this case, is a part of a permanent building wall.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view` of a part of the assembly shown in Fig. 4, on line 55. Fig. 6 is a side view of a modied extensible stud comprising an inclined plane on the back of 55 one channel iron, registering at its face with the face of another inclined plane of equal but'opposite slope on the back of another channel iron.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the same assembly before the two channel irons are drawn together.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of one of the channel irons of the type used in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 shows a modification of the means of engagement of an end of a stud.

In the various gures, like reference characters denote like parts.

Thus the channel iron sill member has upstanding flanges I, and a back or base portion 2. 'I'he flanges are provided with transverse grooves 3, suitably with approximately vertical side walls and a depth that is much greater than the width but not equal to the entire height of the flange.

The channel ceiling head plate has a back 5 and downwardly extending flanges 4 provided with grooves 6, of kind similar to those in the sill member. Vertical studs consist of two channels placed back to back and having, respectively, flanges l-a and 'I-b and backs 8-a and 8 1), whereby there is formed an I-stud, with a web member 8. This web member is engaged at one end in the grooves in the flanges of the sill member and at the other end in the grooves in the flanges of the ceiling head plate. Suitably, the web member is cut away for a certain distance at the center portion of the web member at the lower end of the studding, to form a passageway 9 suitable for receiving conduits, telephone cables, and the like. The backs of the two channel members comprising the stud are held together in adjustable engagement by a fastening member I2, suitably a circular bolt, passing through a perforation I0 in the back of one channel, and a longitudinal slot I I in the back of the other channel, said perforation and slot registering with each other when the flanges of the two channels are in'alignment. The said perforation may also be a longitudinal slot, as illustrated. Also, the two channels are adjustably engaged at a plurality of positions, as illustrated, whereby the backs of the two channels are held firmly together, with the flanges in alignment, to form a rigid I-stud. The two channels or members forming the stud may be of approximately the same length, or one such member may be not substantially more than twice as long as the other. Preferably one member is less than twice as long as the other. In this way, there is formed a composite stud of double thickness or reinforced at its midsection, an important feature adding considerably to dependability, as in case of a moderate re.

A modified form of stud is that shown in Fig. 3, in which two channel irons, with anges I3 and backs I4, which are so thin that they could not be secured together conveniently into a strong, i

dependable stud by the conventional riveting process, are attached to each other at the back portions by spot welding the back portions together at close intervals, as at positions I5. The union is made more secure by providing that not all the welded spots are in a vertical line; in fact, the spots which are welded together may be spaced near each side of the web member of the nished stud, as illustrated.

A modified form of support for either end of the studding is illustrated in Fig. 9, in which 'there is shown a pair of angle irons I6 each provided with a transverse groove in the upstanding leg thereof. As in the case of the grooved channel iron, so also here the groove (which engages the web member of the stud at two positions) has subbe made in three directions.

stantial effective length, that is, the outer ends of the groove are at a substantial distance apart, as indicated by the distance between the outer ends Ila and IIb. 'I'his assures that the web member of a studding engaged in the groove cannot turn on its longer axis or slip sidewlse, as would be the case if the web member were engaged in a single groove of very short length, such as a groove in the upstanding web member of a sill T-beam or in a leg of a single angle iron.

The grooves in the stud-engaging members I, 4, or I6 extend approximately vertically and are arranged in pairs in which the individual grooves composing a pair are alined, that is, so placed that a line connecting two grooves of a pair would extend at approximately a right angle to the direction of the longest dimension of the members I, 4 or I6.

Means of adjustably attaching the supporting substructure for an assembled wall to a firm anchorage is illustrated in Fig. 4. The rm anchor age I8, in this case the inside face of' a permanent wall of a building, is attached to the studding of the wall assembly, as to a vertical T-beam, with flange face I9 and web member 20 provided with vertical, that is, longitudinal slot 2 I. The means of attachment includes a bracket, suitably a narrow one, with leg 22 provided with a longitudinal slot 23 and with leg 24, extending at approximately a right angle to the other leg, and provided with a longitudinal slot 25. The bracket is secured to the firm anchorage by means of a fastening member 26, suitably'a screw inserted through the slot 25, and also to the`studding of the assembled wall by means of a fastening member 28, suitably a bolt with nut passing through slots 2I and 23. It will be observed that the longer dimension of the slot in the unit of the `substructure is at a right angle to the longer dimension of the slot with which it registers in the bracket, and also that the slots in the two legs of the bracket extend in directions at a right angle to each other. The longest dimensions of the two slots in the bracket lie in a plane at right angles to the longer dimension of the slot in the studding. The various fastening members are adjustable within the slots through which they are inserted, whereby adjustment of the substructure with respect to the f'lrm anchorage may 'I'his universal adjustability is very convenient in correcting for irregularities in buildings that are being equipped with the substructure for an assembled wall. If one of the three slots is substituted by a hole closely fitting the fastening member, then adJustment with respect to the rm anchorage maybe made in two directions only. Adjustment by means of a given slot may be made in the direction of the length of the slot.

In inserting an extensible stud, at one end, into a groove in a sill member and, at the other end, into a groove in a ceiling head plate, the two parts of the extensible stud may be slipped over each other in such manner as to render fairly tight the engagement of the ends of the studs in the grooves. When a `tighter engagement is desired, there may be used a stud ofthe type illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7. This type is composed of two members, suitably two channel irons each with flanges 34, on the backs 32 of which are inclined planes or corrugations. The inclined planes 29 on one of the channels slope in one direction, whereas the inclined planes 30 on the other channel have an equal slope in the opposite direction. When the members are pulled together tightly, as by means of the bolt 3|,

- on the other.

suitably with tapping of the stud, the faces of the inclined planes `are forced against each other and slipped over each other in such manner as to increase slightly the length of the studding beyondv that to which the studding was originally extended by hand adjustment. The inclined planes on each member register with faces of the inclined planes On each channel, several inclined planes are suitably placed close together to form a series. There may be a plurality of such series of inclined planes in each of two or more positions (elevations) on each channel. The positions of the series on the two channels should be so selected that they will coact when the stud is extended to approximately its final length in the nished assembly.

'Ihe details of one part, or one channel iron,`

which may be used in forming this type of studding, are shown in perspective in Fig. 8. It will be seen from this figure that the channel has a` back 32 provided not only with the inclined planes 29, butalso with the slot 33, suitably adjacent to the position of the inclined planes and suitably between two rows of such planes. It will be seen also that the planes are arranged in such manner as to have considerableeffective width, as, for example, in two strips at either side of the channel iron. This width tends to keep in alignmentI the two members forming the stud illustrated in Fig. 6.

'Ihe method of assembly of structures in accordance with the invention should be evident from the description which has been given. However, the following remarks on methods of assembly may be of. interest.

In constructing an assembly of the type illustrated in Fig. 1, that is, with extensible studs engaged in grooves in channel irons at either end of thestuds, the following procedure may be followed. 'Ihe channel sill, suitably l-gauge cold rolled steel, with transverse grooves provided in the flanges at appropriate distances, as, for example, on 24 inch centers, is first secured to the floor that is to underlie the structure, as by inserting screws through preformed holes in the back of the sill and into the floor. The ceiling head plate, consisting of a channel iron, suitably also 16-gauge, with grooves cut in its flanges to correspond to those in the sill member, is then attached to the ceiling, in conventional manner, as by screws inserted through holes in the back of the channel and into the permanent ceiling of the building in which the structure is being erected. The extensible-studs are then elevated, one by one. These studs are suitably constructed of 20-gauge coldl rolled steel channels and are somewhat shorter, before being extended, than the distance between the mouth of one groove and the bottom of the other into which the studs are to be engaged. The lower end of each stud is engaged in the groove in the sill, and one member of the stud is then slipped upward and into engagement with the groove in the ceiling head plate. The fastening members or bolts I 2 are then tightened in order to maintain the stud in this extended condition. At a vertical edge of such a substructure, a single upright channel member may be substituted for the I-beam stud. Over the flange faces of the studding there may be maintained units of facing material, as

shown, for example, in Fig. 4. Such facing units may be maintained on the face of the studding in flat on the floor, engage the two ends in the grooves of the two channel irons, and then erect the structure so that the one channel becomes the ceiling head plate, and the other the sill. Or, the sill and ceiling head plate may be properly grooved, as stated later, and then fixed in position first, one on the flooi; and the other on the ceiling, and the studding of fixed length later slipped into the grooves, provided the depth of the groove in the ceiling head plate is substantially greater than that of the groove in the sill plate and the studding is of properly selected length, that is, very slightly less than the distance between the bottom of the groove in the ceiling head plate and the top ofthe sill member, whereby the studding may be pushed into the deep groove in the ceiling head plate and then allowed to seat`itself in the shallow groove of the sill, without disengaging the studding from the groove in the ceiling head plate.

In spite vof the difficulties of forming two lightgauge channel irons into a rigid I-stud, I have `accomplished this in a very effective and convenient manner. Thus, I have placed two 20-gauge channel irons back to back, with the flanges of the two channels in alignment, to form an I-beam shape, and then spot welded the two backs together at close intervals, by bringing a terminal of an electric welding machine appropriately against each side of what is now the web member of the I-beam. In this way there is formed a small but secure welded spot. Additional welded spots are placed at close intervals, up and down the studding, and also are spaced suitably sometimes towards one side of the web member, sometimes towards the other, so that firm contact between the backs of the channels is secured over a wide area.

In a preferredembodiment of the invention the channel iron sill and ceiling head plate are slightly more narrow than the studding, and the flanges of the studding fit snugly outside the flanges of the channel irons in the nished assembly.

The substructure of the present invention has numerous important features, some of which have already been mentioned.

Although the studs may be engaged loosely, as, for example, when a stud is somewhat shorter than the distancebetween the bottoms of the upper and lower sets of grooves, the studdingfis nevertheless kept in vertical alignment by the sides of the grooves and by the flanges on the studding fitting snugly against other parts of the sill and ceiling head plate members.

Some advantages of the mechanical tightening device o f the extensible studs have been vmentioned. Furthermore, the extensible stud of the type, for example, of Figs. 1 and 2, can be adjusted in length by increments or decrements that may be as small as desired, and is to be distinguished from other extensible' studs in which the adjustment may be made only in the finite steps of considerable magnitude, such as the distance between adjacent holes through which a bolt may be inserted to adjust the length of the stud.

Since the bracket clamp for securing the supusing individually measured and manufactured fastening devices, made to flt the peculiar irregularities of a particular anchorage or wall or cut to t on the job.l

The channel sill and ceiling head plate members may each be substituted by various structures, as, for example, by two angle irons, in which case the two upturned edges oi a pair of angles would correspond roughly to the two anges of the channel iron and would carry transverse grooves. The studs may consist of channel irons or other article containing two flanges and a connecting web member; however, the I-stud structure described above is preferred for several reasons.

Since many variations from the illustrative details that have been given may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that variations within the spirit of the invention should be included in the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A supporting substructure, adapted for use in an assembled wall, comprising a metal sill and a metal ceiling head plate, said sill and ceiling head plate being provided with transverse grooves with outer ends of each groove at a substantial distance apart, and an extensible I-stud extending from the sill to the ceiling member and engaged at either end in `said grooves, whereby turning of the stud on its longest axis and sidewise slipping of the stud are prevented.

2. A supporting substructure, adapted for use in an assembled wall, comprising a channel iron sill with upwardly extending flanges and a channel iron ceiling head plate with downwardly extending flanges, all the said flanges of the sill and ceiling head plate being provided with grooves, and a metal stud 'extending from the sill to the ceiling head plate and engaged at either end in said grooves and also outside the said flanges, whereby turning of the stud on its longest axis and sidewise slipping of the stud are prevented.

3. A supporting substructure, adapted for use in an assembled wall, comprising a channel iron sill with upwardly extending anges and a channel iron ceiling head plate with .downwardly extending flanges, said flanges of the sill and ceiling head plate being provided with grooves, and a metal stud consisting of two flanges and a connecting web member, extending from the sill to the ceiling head plate and engaged at either end in v,said grooves, whereby turning of the stud on its longest axis and sidewise slipping of the stud are prevented. Y

4. A supporting substructure, adapted for use in an assembled wall, comprising a channel iron sill with upwardly extending flanges and a channel iron ceiling head plate with downwardly extending flanges, said flanges of the sill and ceiling head plate being provided with grooves, and

a metal stud consisting of two flanges and a connecting web member, extending from the sill to the ceiling head plate and engaged at either end in said grooves, the said flanges of the stud fitted snugly against the anges on either side of the sill and ceiling head plate channels, whereby turning of the stud on its longest axis and sidewise slipping of the stud are prevented.

5. In a building assembly including upright studs, the improvement comprising a firm anchorage, a bracket clamp with two legs securing the assembled wall adjustably, to the anchorage, each leg of the clamp being provided with a longitudinal slot, a fastening member inserted through the slot in one leg of the bracket and attached to the anchorage, and another fastening member inserted through the slot in the other v leg of the bracket and attached to the assembled wall, each fastening member being adjustable in the slot through which inserted, whereby adjustment of the position of the assembled wall, with respect to the anchorage, may be made in two directions.

6. In a building assembly including upright studs, the improvement comprising a firm anchorage, a bracket clamp with two legs securing the assembled wall adjustably to the anchorage, each leg of the clamp being provided with a longitudinal slot, a circular fastening member insertd through the slot in one leg of the bracket and attached to the anchorage, and another circular fastening member inserted through the slot in the other leg of the bracket and attached to the assembled wall, each fastening member being adjustable in the slot through .which inserted, whereby adjustment of the position of the assembled wall, with respect to the anchorage, may be made in two directions.

7. In a building assembly including upright studs, the improvement comprising a firm anchorage, a bracket clamp with two legs securing the assembled wall adjustably to the anchorage, each leg of the clamp being provided with a longitudinal slot, a fastening member inserted through the slot in one leg of the bracket and attached to the anchorage, and another fastening member inserted through the slot in the other leg of the bracket and through a slot in a stud of said wall, this latter slot extending at approximately a right angle to the slot in the bracket with which it registers, all fastening members being adjustable in the slots through which inserted, whereby adjustment of the position of the assembled wall, with respect to the anchorage, in three directions may be made.

8. An assembly. adapted for use as the supporting substructure in an assembled wall, comprlsing sill and ceiling head plates, flanges upstanding from opposite side edges of one of the said plates and provided with grooves alined in RAYMOND V. PARSONS. 

